Our mentor group has been wondering what bokeh actually is, as we knew it is about the shapes like you see in this image, from blurred light, but it also is the blurred background as found in a portrait. So, I just googled out of curiosity and learned it means:
"In photography, bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".
Above was created from 3 images and a bird shape cut out of a cover to the lens, then shooting holiday lights out of focus.
A huge thanks to all of you who viewed, commented, and fav'd "Then the Birds Flew By" and made it #1 on Top Twenty today. I'm walking on air!!
What a clever and creative shot! Great idea to give the proper definition of bokeh - I have just waffled on Rachel's droplet shot and this says it so much clearer! Just thinking now with the Mac I will be,able to do shots like this and merge shots together. So much to learn! Fav for these birds love them! Congrats on number 1 on TT! It all came together perfectly in that fabulous,shot!
Another fabulous bokeh Taffy, I'm very curious as to how you managed to get this multitude of birds. I can 'see' the three images, but how the heck did you get all those birds in those patterns? Big congratulations on your TT, it's a superb shot and worthy of hanging on anyone's wall. Big pat on the back, mate.
@golftragic It's actually four images, but not equal:
(1) Parking lot lights at the university facing to the right
(2) and (3) Parking lot lights, but with the figure cutout facing the other way, and separating the white ones at the top of the center from the same image it was in, but in the wrong place
(3) Someone's railing with lights on it
One of these days, I have to try this... all I need is time. ;) The cut-out gives a very cool effect. They look as though they are flying across the screen!
@taffy Oh wow, very creative Taffy and well thought out. Did you have multiple shapes in the cutout? I just don't get how one gets these streams of shapes. Dumb I know, but ……
@golftragic It was all one shape of a bird, but the more you open or close the lens, the sharper or fuzzier the bird got. So I just took it at different focal lengths -- small subtle differences, but with the same settings it sharpened to tightened the shape.
I can just imagine you out there getting all these lights in bird shapes. This looks very cool. Thanks so much for the definition of bokeh. It has been such an interesting and educating experience doing this challenge.
I've never tried the cut-out lens cover idea but your images here are inspiring. Super congrats on that #1 spot in the TT — that was an amazing photo you took.
Taffy, I appreciate you providing the definition of bokeh; and your image delights! I love the freedom of all of those birds flying throughout the frame. Thanks for explaining how you captured this.
This has all been very educational as I have been following other 365ers working with bokeh....loved the different shapes people have been creating with out of focus lights....the other interesting thing to me was that the shape of the bokeh (circular vs hexagonal) varies with how wide your aperture is when shooting! Fascinating...
December 18th, 2015
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One more...then a break
(1) Parking lot lights at the university facing to the right
(2) and (3) Parking lot lights, but with the figure cutout facing the other way, and separating the white ones at the top of the center from the same image it was in, but in the wrong place
(3) Someone's railing with lights on it